Cablegate: Media Reaction: Campaign to Oust President Chen Shui-Bian

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #3158/01 2551039
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121039Z SEP 06
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2093
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5648
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 6859

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 003158

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - DAVID FIRESTEIN
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CAMPAIGN TO OUST PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN

1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to
give significant coverage September 12 to former DPP Chairman Shih
Ming-teh's sit-in rally to oust President Chen Shui-bian, and to a
possible general strike to try to force Chen to step down. The
pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, ran a
front-page banner headline that said "Strike to Undermine Taiwan?
Daily Output Will Suffer Loss of NT$30 Billion." The newspaper also
devoted its entire page three to criticizing the idea of a
nationwide strike to bring Chen down. In addition, the paper
carried a banner headline on page two that read "United States
Opposes Ousting Bian by Unconstitutional Means."

2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times"
editorial criticized the idea of a general strike, saying it is
merely aimed at undermining the results of democratic elections via
a mass movement. An editorial in the limited-circulation,
pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" also criticized
moves to oust President Chen as "a ridiculous attempt to subvert
Taiwan's democracy." An editorial in the limited-circulation,
pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" urged Washington to
continue to maintain "an unbiased stance toward the complicated
picture of Taiwan's politics." An editorial in the pro-unification
"United Daily News," on the other hand, urged the DPP to quickly
draw a line between itself and President Chen. An editorial in the
limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language
"China Post" said Shih's campaign is a good lesson for Taiwan's
democracy. End summary.

A) "Please, What Taiwan Needs Is Jobs, Not a Strike"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000]
editorialized (9/12):

"... As for launching a recall and a strike, the former will create
political upheavals and deactivate democratic operations, while the
latter will create social and economic disturbances, forcing more
disappointed investors to leave Taiwan. Should this be the case,
the objective to exert pressure on the government may be attained,
but who will benefit from such an action? The answer is definitely
those careerists who attempt to usurp power, not the general public
and workers who will suffer severe disasters; the answer is
definitely China, not Taiwan. ...

"While using a strike as a means to oust Bian may be given the
dignified name of a demonstration of people power, it is actually a
mass movement to subvert the results of democratic elections. ...
President Chen's performance in reform may not be very satisfactory,
but mobilizing the people to oust him can neither help speed up the
pace of reform nor win the support of the majority of the people.
..."

B) "Sit-in Gets the Big Thumbs down"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] wrote in an editorial (9/12):

"... Many analysts believe the campaign will fizzle out and fail to
achieve its ultimate aim of Chen being forced to step down. And if
events so far are anything to go by then they appear to be right.
The president and the DPP have already received the message loud and
clear that the people will no longer tolerate corruption, and all
the cases of alleged impropriety that have been uncovered are being
dealt with by the authorities. Shih and the organizers should also
heed the message that the weekend's events have conveyed to them and
end this ridiculous attempt to subvert Taiwan's democracy."

C) "Taiwan's Autonomy Cannot be 'Deposed'"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20.000] editorialized (9/12):

"... For international observers, the most intriguing aspect of
Taiwan's recent political upheavals is the extent to which the
judicial system can act as an arbiter to find the truth of the
allegations of scandal surrounding President Chen and pave the way
for constitutional methods to handle this difficult crisis.
Nevertheless, claims by some pro-KMT pundits that the U.S. can or
should persuade or push Chen out of office has riveted renewed
attention on the role of the U.S. in Taiwan's domestic politics.
For example, some local pro-KMT media have mistakenly quoted parts
of statements by U.S. officials and 'spun' such excerpts into claims
that Washington does 'not support' the Chen administration or even
that the U.S. would favor Chen's resignation. To the contrary, the
U.S. administration under Republican President George W. Bush has
consistently stuck to the position that it respects the capability
of Taiwan's judicial system to investigate the allegations and has
confidence in the wisdom of Taiwan's people to bridge domestic
divisions.
"We urge Washington to continue to maintain an unbiased stance
toward the complicated picture of Taiwan politics because any
miscalculated reaction or policy shift toward President Chen at the
present time will surely be twisted and utilized by pan-KMT
opposition or even the DPP administration, regardless of
Washington's intent. ... Washington's prime concern lies not only
in a peaceful, constitutional and democratic resolution to Taiwan's
political difficulties, but also in preventing the authoritarian
People's Republic of China from interfering in Taiwan politics
through military or other means. ... Based on past experience, what
the U.S. fears most in cross-strait relations are 'surprises' in
rhetoric from Taiwan and miscalculations by Beijing. What
Washington wants are consistent, predictable and peaceful policies
to be maintained by both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

"The long-delayed passage of three major defensive weapons
procurements due to two years of unrelenting boycotts by the KMT and
its allied People First Party has already cast a dark shadow on
U.S.-Taiwan relations. Washington's perception now is if Taiwan
cannot display concrete steps to defend itself by curbing the impact
of partisan disputes on national security and defense, then the
island country will run the risk of losing U.S. support. In light
of Washington's efforts to convince the PRC to act as a 'responsible
stakeholder' in the international community, Taiwan should take the
initiative to play a positive role by showing greater resolution to
upgrade its own defensive capability, implement domestic reforms,
promote normalization of cross-strait relations and encourage
'democratic openings' in the PRC itself. ..."

D) "DPP Should Quickly Draw a Line between Itself and the 'Chen
Family Regime'!"

The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000]
editorialized (9/12):

"... The DPP does not exist simply to defend the corrupt Chen,
regardless of its honor; the DPP government certainly does not exist
just to defend Chen, the national criminal, at any cost. The DPP
must come to its senses and realize that the current political
situation has deteriorated to the 'one hundred percent Chen family
regime,' which is definitely not the DPP's ideal 'DPP regime,' or a
'nativist regime' that the DPP once wished for! ..."

E) "Shih's Battle a Good Lesson"

The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (9/12):

"Shih Ming-teh's 'sunset battle' enters its fourth day today with
sustained momentum. Win or lose, he has taught Taiwan a lesson:
With the right leadership, reconciliation of all kinds is possible.
... More importantly, the movement has drawn support from Taiwan's
rival political camps, the pan-green camp for Taiwan independence
and the pan-blue camp for the status quo. The green group estimates
30 percent of the depose-Chen rally are his former supporters. ...
At 65, Shih may not have another battle to fight, but his 'sunset
battle' may prove to be the dawn of maturity for Taiwan's
democracy."

YOUNG

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